Description
Of the 26 balls, 23 baseballs are Rawlings, “Official Ball Carolina League" baseballs with the signature of the league president, John Hopkins, on the logo. The baseball signed by Jung Ji Cho is a Rawlings Official Ball, Appalachian League, signed by the league president, Lee Landers. The baseball signed by Yung-Chi-Chen is a Rawlings Official MLB ball signed by Allen H. Selig (in office 1998-2015). The ball with the faded signature is a Rawlings Official NCAA Championship ball, showing the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) logo. Each ball is encased in an acrylic display box. The set includes the following balls:
• Jimmy Barthmaier, #34, Pitcher, Salem Avalanche 2005
• Brian Bixler, #15, Lynchburg Hillcats, Ball signed 6/9/06. Bixler has played in Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Washington Nationals and Houston Astros as well as for the United States national baseball team.
• Tony Blanco, #43, Potomac Nationals, 2006
• Yung-Chi-Chen, Inland Empire 66ers, 2006
• Jung Ji Cho, #15, Pitcher, Danville Braves, 2005
• Joe Devine, #38, Myrtle Beach, 2005 #1 Draft Pick. Devine was the Braves' first selection (27th overall) in the first round of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft out of North Carolina State University, where he had set the Wolfpack record for saves with 24 and made the All-Atlantic Coast Conference team three times. After being drafted, Devine spent only two months in the minor leagues, pitching with the Single-A Advanced Myrtle Beach Pelicans and the Double-A Mississippi Braves, before being called up to the major leagues on August 20. He was the first player in his draft class to make his MLB debut.
• Andrew Dobies, #17, Pitcher, Wilmington Blue Rocks, 2006
• Rodrigo Escobar, #27, Salem Avalanche - 9/6/06 Game Ball.
• Matt Esquivel, #16, Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Ball dated 8-5-05.
• J.C. Holt, #1, Infield, Myrtle Beach Pelicans, 2006
• Lucas Harrell, #34, Winston Salem Warthogs, 2006. Harrell is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He has played in Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox, Houston Astros, Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers, and Toronto Blue Jays. Harrell has also played for the LG Twins of the KBO League.
• Thomas Hottovy, #21, Pitcher, Wilmington Blue Rocks. Wilmington is the current pitching coach for the MLB Chicago Cubs. He was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the fourth round of the 2004 MLB draft, and pitched in MLB for the Red Sox and the Kansas City Royals. He played college baseball at Wichita State.
• Christopher Kelly, #27, Winston-Salem Warthogs, 6HR in 28g as of 5/8/06
• Adam Loewen, #20, Pitcher, Frederick Keys, 2005. Loewen is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He previously pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles from 2006 to 2008, before converting to a position player and playing with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2011. After spending the next two seasons in the minors as a position player, Loewen converted back to being a pitcher and was called up to the Philadelphia Phillies in August 2015. He pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2016.
• Ronnie Martinez, #15
• Victor Mercedes, #30, Winston Salem Warthogs, Switch hitter. The infielder has reached as high as Double-A with four different teams (Nationals, Pirates, White Sox, and Dodgers). Victor was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1999.
• Garrett Olson, #37, Pitcher, Frederick Keys, 2006 - later played for Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners, Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Mets, Oakland Athletics, Doosan Bears
"Rawlings, Official Ball Carolina League" baseball with the signature of the league president, John Hopkins, on the logo.
• Felipe Paulino, #29, Pitcher, Salem Avalance, 2006.
Paulino is a Dominican-Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros, Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) with the Saitama Seibu Lions.
• Pedro Powell, #2, Outfield, Lynchburg Hillcats, 2006
"Rawlings, Official Ball Carolina League" baseball with the signature of the league president, John Hopkins, on the logo.
• Chad Reineke, #34, Pitcher, Salem Avalanche, 2006. He played in Major League Baseball for the San Diego Padres, Oakland Athletics, and Cincinnati Reds.
• Lou Santangelo, #5, Catcher, 2006 Salem Avalanche
• Brett Sinkbeil, 2003 June Amateur Draft - Round: 3, Pick: 12, Overall: 79, Team: Atlanta Braves
• Jake Stevens, #33, Pitcher, Myrtle Beach Pelicans, 2005. Stevens was a 2003 June Amateur Draft - Round: 3, Pick: 12, Overall: 79, Team: Atlanta Braves.
• 2005 Myrtle Beach Pelicans: Miguel Bernard (#45), Bryan Digby (#34), Wesley Letson (#15), Jason Richardson (#37)
• Unknown (faded) player signature.
About the Carolina League:
Founded during World War II, the Carolina League's inaugural 1945 season featured two Southside Virginia cites. But throughout the 1940s and '50s it was known as a predominately North Carolina League. In those days it wasn't unusual for talented players to make a career out of Minor League Baseball. Some of the league's colorful greats from that era (many still hold league records) included Muscle Shoals, Willie Duke, Woody Fair, Harvey Haddix and Crash Davis, whose name was immortalized in the movie Bull Durham.
Condition: Each ball shows expected surface scuffs and patina. All signatures are vivid and clear, except for one ball with faded signature and label (#26). One acrylic display case is cracked (photographed). The set was acquired from a collector. They have not been graded and do not come with authentification certificates.
